Peter Fletcher Home Page

Dr Peter Fletcher

Last Updated – 2009

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Teaching and Learning Quantum Mechanics at Tertiary Level

According to a little bird

The Wave & Particle Nature of the Photoelectric Effect

Teaching and Learning of Science and Technology K-20
ICT integration
Qualitative Research Methods

My ambition is to establish an educational research group focusing on hands-on science and technology demonstrations across K-20 educational settings. I believe research into the effectiveness and outcomes of using hands-on demonstrations would greatly assist curriculum developers, teachers and teacher educators.

CAREER SUMMARY

Career experience includes sixteen years in information technology and communications, twelve years in educational research, two years full–time secondary teaching and nine years part–time teaching across Technical and Further Education (TAFE NSW), private tuition, Adult Community Education (ACE), secondary school and university settings.

If you ever wondered what a physics education researcher does

Kansas State University 2005

2009

Lecturer – Physics (CASR Project)

University of New England, Armidale

2007 – 2009

Lecturer – Science and Technology Education

University of New England, Armidale

2006

Teacher – Software Design & Development, Science and Physics

St Columba Anglican School, Port Macquarie

2004 – 2005

Research Associate – Physics Education

Kansas State University, Manhattan Kansas USA

2004

Teacher Wauchope High School – Science and Agriculture

New South Wales, Department of School Education

2003 – 2004

Tutor – Physics, Mathematics and Medical Physics

Port Macquarie – Master Coaching College

2002 – 2003

Part-time Teacher – Information Technology and Electro–Technology

North Coast Institute of TAFE, Port Macquarie

2001 – 2002

Information Technology Services Manager – Operations

North Coast Institute of TAFE, Port Macquarie

1996 – 1999

Manager – Networks, Communications and Desktop

North Coast Institute of TAFE, Port Macquarie

1995 – 1996

Manager Information Technology Services

South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Macquarie Fields

1996 – 1996

Part–time Teacher – Information Technology

Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE, Gore Hill

1994 – 1995

Teacher Riverside Girls High School – Computing and Physics

New South Wales, Department of School Education

1993 – 1994

Instructor / Tutor – Computers, Physics and Mathematics

Hornsby Ku–ring–gai Community College, Sydney

1990 – 1993

Network Planner / Project Manager

Pure Logic / Contract Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1986 – 1988

Communications Engineer / Systems Programmer

Pure Logic / Contract Electricity Commission of NSW

1985 – 1986

Analyst Computer Programmer

Pure Logic / Sub–contract NSW State Rail Authority

1985 – 1985

Computer Programmer

Amalgamated TV Services, ATN 7

1984 – 1985

Computer Programmer

PARITY Computers, Sydney

EDUCATION

1998 – 2005 Doctor of Philosophy (Physics Education Research)

Dissertation – How Tertiary Level Physics Students Learn and

Conceptualise Quantum Mechanics

School of Physics, University of Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Note: Copy available in RESOURCE SECTION below)

2003 Certificate IV Workplace Assessment and Training

North Coast Institute of TAFE

Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

1995 – 1997 Master of Science (Physics Education Research)

Dissertation – How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics

School of Physics, University of Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Note: Copy available in RESOURCE SECTION below)

1995 Teacher's Certificate

Department of School Education

New South Wales, Australia

1993 Graduate Diploma in Education (Science Education)

University of Technology, Sydney

Broadway, New South Wales, Australia

1989 – 1992 Bachelor of Science (Double major Mathematics and Physics)

University of Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

1984 Diploma Programming Technology

Control Data Institute

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

SCHOLARSHIPS

1999 – 2000 University of Sydney, School of Physics Research Scholarship

GRANTS

2005 Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics

Developing Multimedia Tools for Senior High School Physics

Role – Partner Organisation: St Columba Anglican School

http://www.asistm.edu.au/successfulr2.asp?st=nsw

2000 – 2001 University of Sydney, Science Faculty Education Research Grant

How Tertiary Level Students Learn and conceptualise Quantum

Mechanics – Across Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics

Role: Project Team Leader

http://science.uniserve.edu.au/courses/scifer/2000_1pfletcher.html

2000 – 2001 University of Sydney, Science Faculty Education Research Grant

Integration of Science Courses

Role: Team Member representing School of Physics

http://science.uniserve.edu.au/courses/scifer/2000_2ageorge.html

1999 University of Sydney, Science Foundation Travel Fund Grant

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Student difficulties in learning quantum mechanics, I.D. Johnston, K. Crawford and P.R. Fletcher, International Journal of Science Education, 20, No 4, 427–446, 1998.

Physics Education Research: Education or Research?, I.D. Johnston, I.J. Cooper, P.W. Fekete, P.R. Fletcher, M.A. Oldfield, B.A. McInnes, R.M. Millar, I.M. Sefton, M.D. Sharma and P.J. Walker, Australian and New Zealand Physicist, 33, No. 1/2, 9–13, 1996.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

A Framework for Integrated Professional Development, N. Sanjay Rebello & Peter Fletcher in Proceedings of NARST, 2006.

College Students’ Ideas About Some Everyday Electrical Devices, Jacquelyn Haynicz (Drew University), Peter Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello in Proceedings of NARST, 2006.

Dynamic Transfer and Learning Using a Constructivist-Based Curriculum, Charles Mamolo, Peter Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello in Proceedings of NARST, 2006.

Students’ Epistemic Modes While Making Sense of Action Movie Clips, Carina Poltera (Ball State University), Peter Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello in Proceedings of NARST, 2006.

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

A Framework for Integrated Professional Development, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, NSTA, San Francisco, CA, 2006.

College Students' Ideas About Some Everyday Electrical Devices, Jacquelyn Haynicz, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, NSTA, San Francisco, CA, 2006.

Dynamic Transfer and Learning Using a Constructivist-Based Curriculum, Charles B. Mamolo, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, NSTA, San Francisco, CA, 2006.

Students Epistemic Modes While Making Sense of Action Movie Clips, Carina Poltera, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, NSTA, San Francisco, CA, 2006.

Constructing a Responsive Methodology: Grounded Theory, Phenomenology and Action Research, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2005.

Professional Development: Case Study with Everyday Electrical Devices, N. Sanjay Rebello, Peter R. Fletcher, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2005

Movie Physics: Transfer of Learning to the Real – World, Carina Poltera, Peter R. Fletcher and N. Sanjay Rebello, AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005

Movie Physics – Poster, Carina M. Poltera, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, PERC, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

A Methodological Framework for Physics Education Researcher & Teacher Professional Development – Poster, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, PERC, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Student Learning & Dynamic Transfer While Interacting with Constructing Physics Understanding Curriculum (CPU): A Case Study – Poster, Charles C. Mamolo, Peter R. Fletcher & N. Sanjay Rebello, PERC, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Administrative and Methodological Professional Development: Case Study Everyday Electrical Devices, N. Sanjay Rebello and Peter Fletcher, AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Constructing a Responsive Methodology: Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, and Action Research,

Peter Fletcher and N. Sanjay Rebello, AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Professional Development: Case Study with Everyday Electrical Devices, Peter Fletcher and N. Sanjay Rebello, AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Operational View of Quantum Mechanics – Poster, Peter Fletcher Ian D Johnston AAPT Summer Meeting: Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.

Managing Cognitive Conflict in a Teaching Interview, Peter R. Fletcher , Foundations & Frontiers of PER Conference Bar Harbor, ME, August 15-19, 2005.

Teaching Quantum Mechanics, P.R. Fletcher, 130th American Association of Physics Teachers 2005 Winter Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America, Jan. 8-12, 2005

Analogies for Teaching and Assessing - Trick or Treat?, P.R. Fletcher, American Association of Physics Teachers, Arkansas-Oklahoma-Kansas Section Meeting, Little Rock, AR, United States of America, Oct 8-9, 2004.

How tertiary level Physics and Chemistry students learn to conceptualise quantum mechanics, P.R. Fletcher, 14^th National Congress of the Australian Institute of Physics, Adelaide SA, Australia, 2000.

Quantum Mechanics Exploring Conceptual Change, P.R. Fletcher and I.D. Johnston, National Association for Research in Science, Teaching Annual Meeting, Boston MA, United States of America, 1999.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, P.R. Fletcher and I.D. Johnston, 13th National Congress of the Australian Institute of Physics, Fremantle WA, Australia, 1998.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, P.R. Fletcher, I.D. Johnston and K. Crawford, 12th Australian Institute of Physics Congress, Hobart TAS, Australia, 1996.